Thamesmead celebrated the start of Christmas with its first ever official Christmas lights switch on by the clock tower in Thamesmead Town Centre on Friday 29 December.

As well as the Mayor of Royal Borough of Greenwich, Angela Cornforth; Erith & Thamesmead MP, Teresa Pearce and local resident/World Boxing Union Welterweight World Title contender, Ryan Barrett switching on the lights, residents were treated to a free Santa’s grotto, community stalls and raffles.

The event was led by Thamesmead’s leading community development agency and registered charity, Trust Thamesmead, whose Head of Partnership and Engagement, Lucy Webb said: “We hope this is the first of many Christmas celebrations to take place in Thamesmead Town Centre, which will bring residents, service providers and community groups together to engage and not only celebrate the big day but being a part of such a great community.”

Thamesmead resident, Dyah Flottweg who won one of two Trust Thamesmead’s Christmas hampers supplied by the Trust Thamesmead/Greenwich Community Food Coop’s fruit and veg stall in Arnott Close said: “It was fantastic to meet my friends here and see the children’s faces light-up as the lights were switched on. We can now start Christmas early.”